They're like Walmart's "people greeters" who welcome customers into their stores, only they come equipped with tennis balls and chew toys instead of blue vests and name tags — not to mention an extra pair of legs.

Charleston's shop dogs might lack the linguistic skills of a box-store greeter, but their wagging tails, playful demeanor and unabashed joy at new human encounters more than make up for it.

Photos: Shop dogs delight customers and staff in several Charleston businesses Close +8 +8 +8 +8 +8

Take Chewy, the canine customer service associate at Elk City Cycles .

"We met when I was three steps inside the store," Rich Ford of South Charleston, a first-time visitor to the business at 613 Tennessee Ave, said last week.

A tail-wagging Chewy dro

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